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Hate Speech

One further fallout from Charlotteville, especially for my American friends and correspondents is the debate around “Free Speech” & “No Platform”. Even in America, free speech does not allow you to incite others to hate. The world consensus is that within the rule of law, hate (discriminatory) speech must be suppressed. Such laws must be for a legitimate purpose, and necessary to promote that legitimate purpose but for those who argue that they should be debated, or that we diminish ourselves by suppressing their right to free speech; you’re wrong! We cannot build a decent society without eliminating abuse, intimidation and discrimination. Our duty to build a decent society is as great or greater than our duty to permit fascists to speak!